Lock



Jan. 29, 1963 K. M. CHRISTENSEN 4 3,075,376

LOCK

Filed Jan. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [WEN TOR.

ATTORNB.

n- 1963 K. M. CHRISTENSEN 3,075,376

LOCK

Filed Jan. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 States ilnite This invention relates to locks for upwardly acting doors and like closures. The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a lock for upwardly acting doors or other slidable closures, which is adapted to receive a padlock or a seal and one in which there is no strain on the seal.

Second, to provide a lock adapted for such uses and one which is Well adapted for use on moving vehicles such as trailers, trucks, railway cars and the like, to which seals are applied or to which both seals and padlocks may be applied.

Third, to provide a lock embodying these advantages which is simple and economical and which may be used as a primary or main lock for a closure or merely as a seal.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

PEG. 1 is a conventionalized illustration of an upwardly acting door and its frame, including a sill with the lock of my invention applied thereto, parts of the general structure being shown mainly in conventional form.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section.

PEG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to that of FIG. 1 with the lock released and the door partially opened.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the lock, the keeper engaging ,chain being partially broken away.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view looking from the left of FIG. 3, the keeper chain being broken away and the padlock and seal being conventionally illustrated.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on a line correspinding to broken line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in section on broken line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view with the latch member in retracted or released position, a link of the keeper engaging member being indicated by dotted lines.

The applicants invention is particularly designed for use as what is commonly called a seal lock such as is used on railway cars used for transporting mail for example, or trailers or trucks which it is desired to seal. It will be understood, however, that structures embodying my invention are desirable for use simply with padlocks or the like. Both seals and padlocks are illustrated in FIG. 4, and both or either one may be used.

In FIG. 1 I illustrate a door frame 1 including a sill 2 and an upwardly acting door 3 of the sectional type which is conventionally illustrated. The Schacht Patent 2,869,637, issued January 20, 1959, illustrates an upwardly acting door embodied in a truck, but as the details of the mounting of the door form no part of my present invention, they are not illustrated. The lower section 4 of the closure is provided with a sill engaging seal 5 secured to its lower edge and is desirably provided with a handle 6.

The lock means of my invention comprises the base member 7, desirably circular and having a conical face 8 and has a central hub-like projection 9. The base member has a bore 10 disposed centrally thereof and through ice this projection 9, through which the spindle 11 is inserted and fixedly secured by upsetting at 12. The spindle is provided with a bearing portion 13 on which the latch member 14 is rotatably mounted. The latch member has an inwardly projecting flange 15, the inner edge of which is adjacent but spaced from the face of the base member, see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, and provides a housing for the coiled latch actuating spring 16 which embraces the projection 9 and has an arm-like extension 17 at its inner end terminating in the lug 18 engaged in the bore 19 in the base member, the spring having an arm 20 at its outer end which is disposed through an opening 21 in the flange 15. The base member is provided with an outwardly projecting keeper 22 disposed in axially spaced relation to the spindle. The latch member is provided with a detent 23 which is urged into engagement with the keeper 22 by the spring. The detent 23 projects outwardly beyond the keeper so that it also serves as a tingerpiece for manipulating the latch member.

The base member is provided with a stop 24 and the latch member with a coacting stop 25, shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3, for limiting the opening or retracting movement of the latch member. In the embodiment illustrated, the keeper engaging member 35 is in the form of a chain and it has at its outer end an elongated link 26 engageable with the keeper and shown in engagement therewith in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This flexible keeper engaging member is fixedly secured to the sill at 27. The link 26 is retained in engagement with the keeper 22 by the latch member which overhangs or overlies the link, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. To permit engaging and disengaging of the link with the keeper, the latch member is provided with a notch-like recess 28 in the edge thereof which is brought into alignment with the link 26 when the latch member is in retracted position, in which position the coacting stops 24 and 25 thereof are in engagement as shown by dotted lines in HS. 7. When the latch member is in this retracted posl tion the link can be slipped on or removed from the keeper 24, that is, of course with the closure in closed position. However, as soon as the latch member is released, it is automatically actuated by the spring to overlying retaining engagement with the keeper engaging member. The keeper 22 and the detent 23 are provided with aligned openings 29 and 3d adapted to receive a padlock 3i and a seal 32, or both, as is illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that it is a common and extensive practice to provide closures with seals so that they cannot be opened without breaking the seal. There are other situations in which it is desired to use locks and my invention enables the use of either the seal or the lock separately or simultaneously. My invention is capable of a wide range of adaptation, but I have not illustrated the various adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure lock means comprising a base member, said base member having a conical face with a central projection, a spindle mounted on said base member and projecting outwardly from said projection thereon, said base member having a keeper projecting therefrom in axially spaced relation to said spindle, a latch member rotatably and retainingly mounted on said spindle and having a detent which constitutes a fingerpiece projecting therefrom and positioned at the sTde of said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and detent having aligned openings therein when the latch member is in actuated position, a coiled spring supportedly mounted on said projection on said base member with spring and; being in overlapping retaining relation to said link when in actuated position and having a notch therein alignable with said keeper when said latch member is in its retracted stop engaging position permitting the engagement and disengagement of said link with said keeper.

2. A closure lock means comprising a base member,

a spindle mounted on said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said base member having a keeper projecting therefrom in axially spaced relation to sai spindle, a latch member rotatably and retaininglymounted on said spindle and having a detent which constitutes a fingerpiece projecting therefrom and positioned at the side or said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and detent having aligned openings therein when the latch member is in actuated position, said base member and latch member having coacting stops limiting the retracting movement ofsaid latch memher, and a keeper engaging member adapted for attachment to a sill or the like and having a link at, its outer end releasably engageable with said keeper when the closure is in closed position, said latch member being in overlapping retaining relation to saidlink when in some ated position and having a notch therein alignable with said keeper when said latch member is in its retracted: stop engaging position permitting the engagement and disengagement of said link with said keeper.

3. A closure lock means comprising a base member, a spindle mounted on said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said base member having a keeper projecting therefrom in axially spaced relation to said spindle, a latch member rotatably and retainingly mounted on said spindle and having a detent which constitutes a fingerpiece projecting therefrom and positioned at the side of said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and detent having aligned openings therein when the latch member is in actuated position, a coiled spring supportedly mounted on said projection on said base member with its inner end engaged with said base member and its outer end engaged with said latch member, and a keeper engaging member adapted for attachment to a sill or the like and having a link at its outer end releasably engageable with said keeper when the closure is in closed position, said latch member constituting a housing for said spring and being in overlapping retaining relation to said link when in actuated position and having a notch therein alignable with said keeper when said latch member is in its retracted stop engaging position permitting the engagement and disengagement of said link with said keeper.

.4. A closure lock means comprising a base member, a spindle mounted on said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said base member having a keeper projecting therefrom in axially spaced relation so said spindle, a latch member rotatably and retainingly mounted on said spindle and having a detent which constitutes a fingerpiece projecting therefrom and positioned at the side of said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and detent having aligned openings therein when the latch member is in actuated position, said base member and latch member having coaeting stops limiting the retracting movement of said latch memher, and a keeper engaging member adapted for attachment to a sill or the like and having a link at its outer end releasably engageable with said keeper when the closure is in closed position, said latch member being in overlapping retaining relation to said link when in actuated position and having a notch therein alignable with said keeper when said latch member is in its retracted stop engaging position permitting the engagement and disengagement of said link with said keeper.

5. A closure lock means comprising a base member adapted to be fix d y moun d n a c os e n upp relation thereto and having an outwardly projecting portion, a spindle mounted on said base member and projecting outwardly from said projection thereon, said base e e ha n a k epe p o e t h r trorn n a a y pa e e a n to sa d pindles lat h me e ot tab y mounted on said spindle and having a detent which cons es a fins p e Pr je n t e efrom d pos t ne at the side of said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and detent having aligned en n s he nwhen th l t membe is in a t position, a coiled spring supportedly mounted on said projection on said base member with its inner end engaged with said base member and its outer end engaged- W i l h memb said ba e mem an latch member having coacting stops limiting the retractingmovement of said latgh member, a swingablekeeper eneas m mb dap ed, to be e ed er a k ep Said latch membe c ns i tin a hou ing for aid pr and bs s n app ng r taining re at on to id e p r engaging member when said latch member is in its actuated position, said latch member having an outwardly I opening recess therein alignable with saidkeeper when said latch member is inits retracted position which permits the engagement and disengagement of said keeper en g m mb th s id eper.

6. A closure lock means comprising a base member adapted to be fixedly mounted on a closure in supported relation thereto, a spindle mountedon said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said base member having a keeper projecting therefrom in axially spaced relation to said spindle, a latch member rot-atably mounted on said spindle and having a detent projecting therefrom and positioned at the side of said keeper when the latch member is in actuated position, said keeper and. detent having aligned openings therein when the latch member is in actuated position, said base member and latch member having coacting stops limiting the retracting movement of said latch member, a swingable keeper engaging member adapted to be sleeved over said keeper, said latch member being in overlapping retaining relation to said keeper engaging member when said latch member is in its actuated position, said latch member having an outwardly opening recess therein alignable with said keeper when said latch member is in engagement with said stop which permits the engagement and disengagement of said keeper engaging member with said keeper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UN E TA ES A E S- 514,4l6, Davy Feb. 6, 1.894 600,282 Harris Mar. 8, 1898 868,234 Tyden Oct. 15, 1907 1,097,108 Pruell May 19, 1914 2,143,439 Friend Jan. 10, 1939 2,198,079 Ferris et al. Apr. 23, 1940 

2. A CLOSURE LOCK MEANS COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A SPINDLE MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A KEEPER PROJECTING THEREFROM IN AXIALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID SPINDLE, A LATCH MEMBER ROTATABLY AND RETAININGLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE AND HAVING A DETENT WHICH CONSTITUTES A FINGERPIECE PROJECTING THEREFROM AND POSITIONED AT THE SIDE OF SAID KEEPER AND DETENT HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS THEREIN WHEN THE LATCH MEMBER IS IN ACTUATED POSITION, SAID BASE MEMBER AND LATCH MEMBER HAVING COACTING STOPS LIMITING THE RETRACTING MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH MEMBER, AND A KEEPER ENGAGING MEMBER ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SILL OR THE LIKE AND HAVING A LINK AT ITS OUTER END RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID KEEPER WHEN THE CLOSURE IS IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING IN OVERLAPPING RETAINING RELATION TO SAID LINK WHEN IN ACTUATED POSITION AND HAVING A NOTCH THEREIN ALIGNABLE WITH SAID KEEPER WHEN SAID LATCH MEMBER IS IN ITS RETRACTED STOP ENGAGING POSITION PERMITTING THE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID LINK WITH SAID KEEPER. 